For and against MR

MR’s re-entry shows SLFP’s bankruptcy - Sujeewa

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The re-entry of Mahinda Rajapaksa by arm-twisting his party leadership reflects the party’s political bankruptcy, Deputy Minister of Justice, Sujeewa Senasinghe said.

Senasinghe, a long-term UNP campaigner against corruption and a promoter of political reforms, said the SLFP of today rides on personalities than policies. He said, with the entry of Rajapaksa, the ‘Bring Back Mahinda’ campaigners have ensured not their victory but a resounding UNP victory at the August 17 polls.

In a hard-hitting interview with the Sunday Observer, Minister Senasinghe said the forces that were united to defeat corruption and to pave the way for accountable governance will have to work harder to seal the fate of all corrupt elements, in order to ensure the January 8 mandate through a silent and decisive political revolution is not reversed.

Excerpts:

Q: The opposition coalition led by the UNP campaigned for accountability and an end to corruption and nepotism. Having campaigned for the ouster of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, how do you react to the SLFP/UPFA decision to give nomination to him?

A: Appalling, but not surprising and certainly not disturbing.

This gives an opportunity to him, to test his ability. He thinks he is a winner but results will show his place in contemporary politics. It is also amusing because it is like a guy who has obtained a PhD now sitting his A/Ls again. He does not understand how people perceive him now - as a power hungry man wanting to protect his crony supporters.

He is trying to start afresh, from where he once left off, as an ordinary parliamentarian. What he did as a president, the whole world knows, speaks of, and all of Sri Lanka is condemned for some of those presidential acts.

He is surrounded by the country’s most corrupt politicians, officials and individuals. Their claim to fame is thuggery, cronyism and corruption. Power is exciting and all of them are in it, again, in an adrenalin rush. How to let go of all that?

All this time, we did not criticize the SLFP/UPFA because the president is leading it and the president is a good person. But the entry of Mahinda Rajapaksa opens the UPFA/SLFP to immense public criticism. That cannot be stopped.

Q: The parties that called for a regime change early this year, collectively elected Maithripala Sirisena as the new president. Do you think that the same presidential candidate, who campaigned for good governance, offering nomination to his predecessor, is acceptable?

A: We believe it is politically and morally incorrect to have offered nomination to the former president. People defeated Rajapaksa and that meant, he was expected to retire. Yet, he resurfaces in the face of massive corruption scandals and abuse of power, demanding that he be made the prime minister, if the UPFA wins.

By doing so, what he is ensuring is nothing but a UPFA defeat.

As for the president giving into his party cadres who threatened him in different ways, all I can say is that he never gave us reason to criticize him before. But with this decision, he has given us the window to do so. This is something the UNP never wished to do. It is disappointing.

Q: Do you view this as a violation of the January 8 mandate or is it because all of you were taken by surprise by the turn of events?

A: It is a surprise that anybody could even consider accommodating Rajapaksa in this manner. On this other hand, it reflects their political desperation. It is a clear violation of the mandate, given largely by the UNP voters, to oust the former president, not because of anything, but because of his government’s record-breaking corruption.

Q: The UNP zealously campaigned with other partners like the JHU, against alleged corruption with the UPFA. Names were mentioned but finally, nobody has been identified and prosecuted. Isn’t this a failure and one that discredits good governance promoters in the eyes of the public?

A: We agree that justice has been slow to come. That’s also because their tracks have been well covered and investigations take considerable time. For a moment one should not think that this is because of the former regime being squeaky clean. They probably qualify for Asia’s systemic corruption award, if there is one.

Q: The UPFA argues that Mahinda Rajapaksa is extremely popular and can ensure electoral victory. If so, is the UNP’s open criticism of Rajapaksa getting nomination, based on the UNP’s inability to convince the voters that the party is worth waiting for, when Rajapksa is taken out of the equation?

A: You will see how strong our campaign is and how convincing our mandate is, come August 18. Until then, you can speculate and allege that the UNP is insecure when pitted against Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former war-winning president.

This election is a cakewalk for the UNP. I am a junior politician and pitted against a powerful and feared than respected president, I would not amount to much. But here is my promise: If I do not garner at least one additional vote than Mahinda Rajapaksa, I will quit politics.

You must acknowledge that Mahinda Rajapaksa has lost it. He has no self respect, is unable to make a sound political calculation and doesn’t understand that he is viewed with great suspicion and disrespect. Why should we fear the defeated?

Q: In the event the former president is elected to parliament, can the UNP remain in a unity government, as you did, until the dissolution?

A: No. It calls for a clear parting of ways.

Q: Does this mean that if President Maithripala Sirisena wishes to continue with a similar arrangement, the UNP will not co-operate?

A: President Sirisena should have thought about the consequences to him politically and for this country, above all, when this decision was taken. I am hoping this was done as a strategy to permanently drive the former president to political wilderness. If that’s the case, then this exercise, ugly as it seems, is worth it. But not otherwise.

There is no chance that the UNP will work with the UPFA/SLFP or with the president, if that requires us to break our bread with Mahinda Rajapaksa. We will never share a truck with Rajapaksa and his cronies.

Q: There was much debate about giving nominations to persons with a tainted reputation. In the current backdrop, do you think the UPFA will offer nominations to others whose names are linked to corruption and abuse of power?

A: Yes. They have accommodated the worst possible candidate. It will come natural to them, to facilitate the rest.

Q: How does the entry of Mahinda Rajapaksa impact on UNP politics?

A: For this of course, we must thank those who made the politically suicidal decision and our stars. The UNP could not have asked for a better backdrop to secure victory.

The UNP’s chances of winning have doubled now. Every right thinking citizen can now distinguish between the corrupt and the non-corrupt. This has automatically created a strong platform for the UNP and we will romp home, on August 17.